Those Days [Newtina]

Chapter 15: Anteoculatia

Newt and Tina left after lunch to check on Artemis one more time before giving her to Queenie.

"Cats love boxes," commented Newt once he had closed the closet door behind the two of them.

"I watch them a lot. They'll climb inside any box."

Tina studied him for a moment, digesting that piece of information. Then she flicked her wand and an Artemis-sized box appeared on the ground, on its side. Tina looked back up at him.

"Brilliant," he smiled.

"Let's not get scratched this time," She joked, crossing her arms.

As predicted, Artemis sniffed the box before deeming it worthy and slipping inside.

Quick as a flash, Newt twirled his wand at the box, which turned the right way up and wrapped itself neatly in shiny green paper, sealed with a large red bow.

It was Tina's turn to grin as she carefully approached the box, noticing that there were breathing holes in the top.

Typical Newt.

She picked up the box, small enough to be held comfortably with both hands, and started towards the closet door.

Just before Tina reached for the handle, she turned her wand on Newt, standing a couple metres behind her, and before he could react, a large, floppy Santa hat fell over his eyes.

"I'm not wearing that," he ground out, slightly amused, but trying to hide it.

"Lighten up a little! It's Christmas!" She laughed, then waved her wand again and adjusted the new pair of reindeer antlers now on her head, balancing the box on one hand.

Newt sighed.

"Oh c'mon!"

Tina laughed again before turning the knob and springing out of the closet. Newt decided he had nothing to lose and followed her out.

"Merry Christmas, Queenie!"

Queenie and Jacob, who were pulling Conversation Cards out of their bedroom, turned at the same time.

"Wha... Tina? Newt?"

Queenie remained expressionless at first, but slowly walked into the living room, Jacob in tow.

"Open it," pushed Tina, unable to contain her excitement.

Queenie slowly smiled.

"Is this for me?"

Newt nodded, the floppy hat slipping further over his eyes.

Queenie broke into a full beam as she lifted the box from Tina's hands and set it down onto the carpet, just next to the Christmas tree.

"Aww... you shouldn't have!" She murmured, blushing as she undid the bow.

Tina beamed and stepped backwards next to Newt. The pair glanced at each other for a second, proud of their accomplishment.

"There are holes on top of this box," observed Queenie as she opened it at the top. A tiny pink nose poked out of the box and she hesitated before lifting the kitten out.

"Artemis?"

Queenie shook her head, unbelieving, and settled Artemis onto her lap.

"Merlin's beard! You guys...!"

Jacob bent down to scratch the tiny animal on her head, and she purred softly.

Queenie's face suddenly dropped.

"Where will we keep her?"

Newt smiled and motioned for Queenie and Jacob to follow him.

They seemed slightly dissatisfied when he rested his hand on the closet door handle, but he grinned, opened it, and disappeared inside, much to their shock. Queenie gingerly tiptoed inside, clutching Artemis close to her chest, and gasped, eyes widening.

"You did all of this?" She murmured, staring around at the room.

"Tina and I did all of this," he corrected, flashing her a quick smile. Tina wandered into the closet at the sound of her name.

Artemis, deciding that she'd had enough pampering, leaped out of Queenie's arms and trotted over to her cat bed, where she nestled down to resemble a fluffy, black foot stool.

Newt, sick of wearing the humiliating red hat obscuring his eyes, yanked it off and jammed it onto Artemis's head, where it slipped over her entire face so she looked like a Santa hat with legs.

Everyone burst out laughing at the tiny creature, and Queenie pulled it off and slapped it over her own head.

"Thank you so much! She's so sweet!" She gushed.

Jacob turned.

"She can play Conversation Cards with us," he joked, gesturing to the shabby box that lay forgotten in the living room.

Queenie followed his gaze.

"I'll set it up," she offered.

Artemis, already accepting Queenie as her master, climbed out of the bed and winded herself around her legs, craving attention.

Queenie leaned down to pick her up and strolledout the door, leaving the three of them to follow her.

{:- FIVE DAYS UNTIL NEWT SCAMANDER'S BIRTHDAY! -:}

Whoop, another chapter done! Sorry if it's sloppily written- I'm barely into Term 1 of school and already preparing for assessments... oof. I may not get time to post as often as I do TwT

An issue I forgot to address earlier... I did some research, and apparently, Conversation Cards is a game that was played quite a bit around the 1920's. I'm too lazy to explain the rules, and they'll be in the next chapter anyways ;) wink wonk.

I'm not actually sure if that's true or not... but WhAt dO I hAVe To lOsE? (other than my pride, education, friends and family, though I'm not sure how you could lose that in this kind of situatio- SORRY I'M GOING OFF ON A TANGENT)

Anteoculatia is quite an unusual name... it's a spell to turn someone's hair into antlers. I thought it (sort of lol) fit the theme, because Artemis is an animal, and it's Christmas, and people wear reindeer antlers and- I'm sorry. I'm running out of spells XD halp.

Welp, my laptop is 16% and I always tend to make my authors' notes SUPER LONG (I'M SO, SO SORRY (Doctor Who reference!)), so I'd better end it there.

;) wink wonk.

see ya!